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. J. M. D. BLAND. GQMBINED RAIL JOINT AND NUT LOGK.

Patented Sept. 26, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN M. D. BLAND, OF LA GRANDE, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRYRUHNSTROTH, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED RAIL-JOINT AND NUT-LOCK! SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 505,564, dated September 26, 1893.

Application filed June 27, 1893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. D. BLAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Grande, in the county of Union and State of Oregon, haveinvented anew and useful Oombined Rail-Joint and Nut-Lock, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined railjoint and brace, and nut-lock,the objects in view being to provide a simple and efficient device whichmaybe applied to a railroad rail toprevent deflection of the rails attheir joints;

and, furthermore, to provide the bracing device with means for lockingthe bolt nuts.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings-Figurel is a perspective View of a rail joint and nutlock embodying my invention applied in the operative position. Fig. 2 isa transverse sectional View of the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates the meeting ends of two rails provided with the usualfish-plates 2 arranged upon opposite sides of the joint, 3 the boltswhich extend through the rails and fishplates, and 4 the nuts which arethreaded upon the extremities of such bolts.

5 represents a bracing plate which is angular in section having thehorizontal wing 6 which is adapted to be secured by means of bolts orspikes 7 to the ties 8, and an integral bracing wing 9 which bears atits upper edge against the side of the tread of the rail. The horizontaland bracing wings comprising the bracing-plate are arrangedat an obtuseangle whereby the inner edge of the horizontal wing is arranged adjacentto the base of the rail from which point the bracing wing inclinesinwardly or toward the rail until its upper edge contacts with the treadthereof. To add to the strength of the horizontal wing of thebracing-plate said part is rolled or rounded in section whereby itsouter edge or toe 6 is caused to bite into the surfaces of serial No.478,980. (No model.)

the ties as the bolts or spikes 7 are driven into the ties. The bracingwing of the plate is provided with a series of elongated openings orslots 10 to receive the threaded extremities of the bolts 3, whichextend beyond the nuts 4. Said bracing-wing being supported against theflange and the tread of the rail, respectively, at its lower and upperedges, and be ing forced toward the same by the spikes 7, holds the railagainst deflection and locks the nuts upon the bolts. This lockingaction is sufficient to prevent the nuts from jarring loose and at thesame time does not interfere with their removal for purposes ofreplacement, repair, &c. This form of rail brace is designed to be usedwithout the ordinary washers, taking the place of the latter and hencesimplifying the construction.

From the above description it will be on derstood that the bracing-platewhich is secured firmly to theties and is held permanently in place byreason of the peculiar rolled or bowed construction of the horizontalwing is adapted to prevent lateral vibration or deflection of theconnected ends of the rails, the elongated openings or slots with whichthe bracing-wing is provided being designed to permit of placement whenthe intervals between the bolts 3vary or are irregularly disposed.Furthermore, this feature of the elon- So gated openings or slotspermits of expansion and contraction of the plate due to the changes oftemperature.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 8 1. In a device of theclass described, the

combination with railroad rails, bolts and nuts, of a bracing-platehaving a horizontal wing to rest upon the surfaces of the ties, and

an inclined bracing-wing provided with open- 0 lugs to receive saidbolts, said horizontal wing being rolled or rounded in section wherebyits free edge or toe engages the surfaces of the ties, and securingmeans for the bracing-plate whereby the said free edge of the horizontal5 wing is impressed into the ties, substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with the rails,bolts and nuts, of abracing-plate having integral horizontaland roobracing wings which are arranged at an obmy own I have hereto affixed mysignature in tuse angle to each other, the bracing-wing the presence oftwo witnesses. bearing at its upper and lower edges, respectively,against the tread and flange of the rail, JOHN B LAND 5 and means tosecure said horizontal wing to Witnesses:

the ties, substantially as specified. WM. MILLER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as A. O. MILLER.

